Bochy expansive on Pablo, other stuff, plus a few words from Dusty

Bruce Bochy met with the media Monday and offered his thoughts on a number of subjects Giants-related. Here’s are the highlights:

On the Adrian Gonzalez trade: “It’s not surprising, there’s been a lot of talk about it. Tremendous player, he played for me, I know him very well. I’ll be honest, I’m not sorry to see him leave the division. I’m happy for him and his new deal, and he’s going to help Boston.”

On Jayson Werth leaving Philadelphia: “There’s no question, they’re going to miss Jayson Werth. Great player both sides of the ball, runs well, power, he hit in the heart of the order for the most part. That’s a hard player to replace but they’ve found a way to do it with other players whether it be (Pat) Burrell, (Aaron) Rowand. You move on, and that’s what they’ll do. They’ll find a way.”

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On talking to Juan Uribe after he signed with the Dodgers: “He called me, I had a good conversation with him. It’s part of the business. He got a great deal there in L.A., I’m happy for him. He got three years, which is what he was looking for … Actually, I talked to him a couple of times before he signed. He called me from the Dominican and expressed his appreciation of how he was treated and that he had a great time. He just wanted to thank me and I said the same to him. Like I said, you understand. It’s part of the business. He certainly did a lot for us and we’re champions in part because of what he did for us.”

On where Pablo Sandoval stands now with his offseason conditioning: “He’s lost some weight, he’s doing well and he’s working hard. He’s dropped over 10 pounds, so that’s good news already. He seems determined to get back to where he was.”

How many more pounds does he still need to lose, I asked.

“He’s got a little ways to go. I don’t want to put a number on it, but he’s still probably got 15 or so, somewhere in there.”

On restructuring spring training work with starting pitchers due to the length of the 2010 season: “It’s hard to take it easy on them because you have to have them ready for the season. With that said, I’ll keep a watchful eye on these starters. I’ll think about the workload they had the year before, and if there are times I can give them a break, I will. On the other hand, my closer (Brian Wilson) carried a pretty heavy workload, too, so whether I bring him in as much in the eighth inning in the coming year, I don’t know. I’ll check and see how he feels, but he’s a guy I would keep an eye on, too. He was a horse throughout the playoffs and season.”

On Aaron Rowand possibility playing corner outfield spots as opposed to just center to improve his versatilility: “I haven’t spoken to him about that. I did a little bit last year. It’s something we may talk to him about, keep an open mind about that. We know (Andres) Torres can do it.”

On how he sees Mark DeRosa’s role: “He could be a super utility type guy. He can play left field, he can play second, third, first (he later added he could use him in a pinch at short). He’s a guy who will move around a lot. He’s had some of his best years doing that. He feels comfortable doing it, kind of thrives on it.

On how winning the World Series has affected his own off-season schedule: “Right now, there hasn’t been anything that’s changed. A lot more requests and demands. I’m getting letters from Wisconsin, from people I don’t even know, wondering if I’ll speak to their Rotary club.

Responding to Ozzie Guillen’s comment that he’d like to be Bruce Bochy because there’s nothing like being the manager of a team that just won the World Series – you feel like a diva: “You feel pretty good. It’s what you dream about, it’s what’s you strive for every year and you’ve done it. There’s no question, there’s a great sense of accomplishment. You try to enjoy it, you try to savor it. He’s right, you’ve climbed the mountain, you’ve reached the pinnacle, you did what you set out to do. Not just for me, but you’re happy for everybody.”

On what he’ll be looking for from Darren Ford in the spring: “It won’t be so much in the spring. To be honest, Darren’s probably going to be in Fresno. He’ll be in spring training so you don’t rule anything out. But he needs to be more consistent with the bat. We know he can play center field, we know he can steal bases. But he’s got to get consistent with that bat. Since he’s given up switch-hitting, he’s been a little more consistent. But he’s got to make improvement in that area. He knows it.

On wanting a contract extension before the season starts (Bochy’s contract runs through 2011): I haven’t even thought about it, to be honest. It’s not even on my mind right now.”

On the importance of finding a shortstop in the event Miguel Tejada gets hurt for an extended period: “That’s one of our priorities to have somebody ready to give us depth. We have (Emmanuel) Burriss, who’s struggling in the Dominican. We’ve got the kid Crawford, who needs more playing time and got hurt there in Double-A. (Ryan) Rohlinger can go there, but these are more short-term solutions.”

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On the possibility of Edgar Renteria returning: “He’s going to see what’s out there, and I don’t blame him. But we definitely have interest.”

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If that’s enough from the manager, here’s some from a former Giants manager. I asked him his thoughts on the Giants finally winning the big one. Pretty good answer:

“I didn’t have to have thoughts. I went to Game 3 and 4 of the (NLCS) playoffs, and my son (Darren) went to Game 1 of the World Series. You saw (him) over there and he had all Giants stuff on. I came back from the Fall League, I was fumbling at the door with my keys and he had the beard on and a Fear The Beard T-shirt saying, `Guess who, Dad?’

“All winter, I still live there, so I see Giants stuff everywhere, I see people who ask me, `Dusty, aren’t you happy?’ Yeah, I’m happy for ‘em. I’m happy for the city, I’m happy for the coaches who were there when I was there and the organization. I’m not a hater. So, yeah, I’m happy for ‘em. Fifty-something years, that’s a long time. You wish it was you, but I’ve got an opportunity next year.’’

More to come later, hopefully, after a session with Brian Sabean …

Andrew Baggarly

Andrew Baggarly has witnessed and documented the most eventful era in San Francisco Giants baseball history, having covered the team since 2004 for th​ree major media outlets including the San Jose Mercury News and the Oakland Tribune​. This will be his 20th season as a baseball writer.
​Baggarly is the author of the bestselling book, A Band of Misfits: Tales of the 2010 San Francisco Giants. A second title, Giant Splash, is due to be published by Triumph Books in April 2015.
Baggarly’s other notable life accomplishments include running as the Bratwurst in the Milwaukee Sausage Race and becoming a three-time Jeopardy! champion.

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With the way Wisconsin fans are loyal to their own, if he would give Rohlinger a chance they might actually put up a statue of Bochy next to the Fonz.

Danya

No questions about Belt?

He talked him up, he’ll get a strong look in the spring, but nothing that hasn’t been said before by Bochy and Sabean … he did say Belt played almost all first base in the Arizona Fall League.

ClutchUp

Thanks Carl, especially liked the bit with D_Baker. One will never forget JT Snow grabbing Darren out of harms way!

howtheyscored

Tyrol+Rowand= Cavuto. I wish they would just give Burriss a chance to play SS. He is the best option. Or they should go after Konerko and trade Belt and Romo to NY for Reyes

WTF

Good stuff, Mr. Steward. I still don’t like how Dusty uses his pitchers, but what he said shows the man is a class act. Always was and always will be so if he is graced in the future to get back to the big one, I’ll be pulling for him. He deserves it.

As for Bochy, I doubt the Giants are going to let him go in to this year as a lame duck. Probably give him a two year extension with an option for the third, at least I hope. Bochy did a wonderful job last season and is definitely a keeper. Anyone who wants to argue that point please refer to the 2010 baseball season.

Sharon Tay

When is this love affair with Darren Ford going to end ? Can’t steal bases if you can’t get on base.

Jeff

“Can’t steal bases if you can’t get on base.”

Can’t get on base if you don’t get an AB…Darren has two stolen bases, and yet no at-bats…

Ford has speed. If he can hit even a little, he should add some spark to the Giants.

Let him get 200 or so AB’s…that should give him a chance to do something.

J.M.

Does anyone know what Crawford’s injury was and how much it affected him last year? Hopefully he can play well and maybe get a cup of coffee in September.

I prefer Rohlinger has a short term option, I’d like him to get more time at SS/2B in ST/AAA, his bat should play there if his defense can approach average. Of course, the Giants won’t give him an extended look unless he tears the cover off the ball. So, no reason to let him rot on the bench in the majors.

I don’t have much faith in Burriss. Maybe his defense is better than I’m giving him credit for, but he has zero power, giving pitchers reason no reason not to challenge him. His walk rate was 8.4% in 2008, and he hasn’t come within <2% of that in the majors or minors since. Has he had a major platoon split in the minors? Maybe he can learn some CF and be a defensive whiz/platoon guy from 3 premium defensive positions.

http://n/a The Stat

Exactly… regarding Ford And the same goes for Burriss. He can’t hit his way out of a wet paper bag. Until both of them can hit, leave them in Fresno.

J.M.

Jeff, maybe we should see if Ford can hit a little in AA before giving him 200 scattered at bats in the majors. He hit .251/.315/.365 in Richmond… tough hitters park, but major league hitters don’t hit .250 in AA. Maybe he adds a little pop and patience in Fresno next year, but he needs to improve significantly.

After further review!!!

How they scored you are an idiot if you are serious!!!

EliminateMe

Jeff, it’s not the ML ABs that anyone’s judging him on, it’s his minor league numbers, like the .315 OBP he posted this season in AA. The major league equivalency for his 2010 stats: .215/.249/.288. He’s gotta show a lot more ability than that before it makes any sense to give him 200 ABs in the majors.

Dave

Re: Ford, it’s not so much a love affair as a simple recognition that a guy with his skill set can be a very useful piece to this team. So if he can hit, even a little bit, he’ll be a very nice piece to have on the bench. He plays superlative defense in CF and would make a fantastic pinch runner off the bench. Nothing more than that.

World Champions

Great reporting Carl, but honestly I’m FAR more interested in what’s going with on Gary Brown, where’s he playing now, what level he’ll start at (assuming High A?), how quickly he will advance through the system because he had four years of college, etc.

Look Darren Ford is a great runner and all but other than Belt, the only thing that could be considered close to an impact [position player] prospect is Brown. Any reports on him?

grizzled

I also prefer Rohlinger over Burriss and others mentioned, including Renteria. He’s also an option with DeRosa to Panda at 3rd and can give Sanchez some rest at 2nd if Sanchez needs it against a lefty. I also would like to see Ishikawa get more time at 1st, at least until Belt comes up… maybe platoon with Burrell with Huff deviding time between 1st and LF.

ClutchUp

Remember Fred Lewis’ foot injuries? Burris has a chronic foot injury that has not healed long enough for anyone to gain confidence in whether or not Burris will ever be back to his former self, health wise.
Rohlinger was good enough for the Giants to dump Matt Downs. I would gaze toward Crawford or Adrianza rather than Manny Burris. Several times he has had screws inserted to fix the fracture/break. Ford is not an everyday player. He will be a September call up to pinch run/defensive replacement. Hit poorly for Richmond Squirrels. Fresno in 2011 will shed some light on the subject.

NWGiantfan

After going over the options at SS for the coming season, I found it not surprising the Giants went after Miggy so hard. All of the guys mentioned as a backup or alternative have issues.
Renteria has no range left so I’m not in favor of resigning him, even at a reduced price.
The Giants need some speed somewhere on the roster so I think the next best option is Burriss. He is good defensively, can run, and it .282 at Fresno this past year so he may be improving with the bat.
Rohlinger is an interesting player…..he can certainly hit. If given a true opportunity, I think this guy could really contribute. Whether or not he ever gets that chance is a big question mark. I went to a Fresno/Tacoma minor league game in 2009 and Rohlinger hit a long home run and a laser beam double in that game. His numbers at AAA speak for themselves. He has played SS and 3B there. Don’t know if he is good defensively but if he is average, he could be a nice backup.

BoulderTom

Carl, solid stuff. Good job. Keep it coming. For me you’re The Source in the Bay Area right now.

Go Giants! 52 and now so sweet.

Bask, you fools, Bask!

http://www.splashingpumpkins.com Julian Levine

“Ford has speed. If he can hit even a little, he should add some spark to the Giants.

Let him get 200 or so AB’s…that should give him a chance to do something.”

No…

boffo

beware of the dodgers they are the most improved team in the div. I see their pitching being better than the giants the league has figured out, lincecum and the beard.

PNWGiantsfan

Thanks for the news, Carl.

killblue

Before we start naming our first borns Brandon, let me remind you of another left handed power hitter the giants had high hopes for: Damon Minor.

Please don’t resign Renteria… What happened in the world series was a miracle, do not forget April-September.

TheWillies

Nice to hear that Pablo has shed some weight. Will six weeks of ST be enough for him to learn to be more selective at the plate? It will be a work in progress the whole season.

rgorham

The dodgers pitching is better than the Giants? The Dodgers are the most improved team in the division? The league has figured out Lincecum and Wilson? Really? All those Farmer John dodger dogs have really caused confusion down South. Long term short stop is probably Adrianza. Crawford could be the next Darren Lewis perhaps starting by 2012. It will be interesting to see if Belt can hit major league pitching.

James

“Before we start naming our first borns Brandon, let me remind you of another left handed power hitter the giants had high hopes for: Damon Minor. ”

No comparison between Belt and Minor. The Giants never had the high hopes for Minor that they have for Belt who’s bat has been compared to Posey’s from the left side. It also took Minor about 4 or 5 years to reach AAA while Belt reached it in his first season jumping from A to AA to AAA in one season after being drafted last year.

john

Love Dusty. I remember the “Dustiny” signs.

Woj

Regarding boffo #17 comment…
“beware of the dodgers they are the most improved team in the div. I see their pitching being better than the giants the league has figured out, lincecum and the beard.”

On what planet do the Dodgers have better pitching than the Giants? Mars? Venus?
Kershaw and Billingsley are good enough to possibly make the Giants rotation as the #3 or #4 starters maybe (Bum and Sanchez would give each a run for his money). Padilla just re-signed with the Dodgers, I suppose he better than Cain and Lincecum. The Dodgers bullpen is a mess and Kuroda is good but he is 1 guy. The rest of L.A.’s pen is a mess. Advantage S.F. with Beard, Romo, Lopez, Affledt, and gas-thrower Casilla.

FILTHpig

#17 – I’ll chalk that comment up to wishful thinking on your part.

Did you even watch the playoffs and the way we dominated two of the best hitting teams in baseball?

Expect more of the same next year, the Dodgers included!

Tahoe Dirt

I say Rohlinger has a good spring and turns into our surprise- I like this guy alot- He can play and should be our SS next year

Norgefreek

Hey guys;
I find it tough to hear people badmouth E. Rentoria after he gets MVP in the series and played stellar D as well as clutch hitting. There are worse things than having a guy like that around to show the younger kids how to walk the walk ! Remember SF may be back in the playoffs again this next season and as Edgar said last season “OK guys this is my time” and he proved it! So show a little love and respect for a great talent. Plus-how many errors did he make during the playoffs? Looks like they won’t have him back for the start of the season anyway.